Sony Mobile

Sony is the Second Biggest Culprit in Android Fragmentation

by Sohrab Osati | Aug 7, 2015 | 0 comments

Android_Fragmentation_1

It’s not news that Android is a fragmented landscape with Android 4.4 KitKat still dominating the user base at 40% more than two years after its release. Did you know that, as of today, there are over 24,000 distinct Android devices? What’s perhaps more insane is that in 2013 when KitKat was released, that number sat at ‘just’ 12,000.

Perhaps this shouldn’t be all that surprising, given that you can shove the OS in just about anything. Want a $50 tablet? Android is your OS. In need of making your TV smarter? Try Android TV. From TVs, to tablets, smartphones, and every niche device out there, Android or some forked version of it can be installed. Heck, the entire Amazon electronic line runs on Android but because of all the tweaks, you likely wouldn’t know it.

So who are the biggest culprits of this? Samsung and Sony.

Sony Xperia M5 and its Fast Focusing Hybrid AF Camera Shown Off

by Sohrab Osati | Aug 5, 2015 | 0 comments

Earlier in the week, Sony debuted the Xperia C5 Ultra and the Xperia M5. While the smaller of the two devices, the Xperia M5 offers a faster processor and higher 21.5-megapixel rear-facing that’s capable of shooting in 4K. Another advantage of the smaller phone (a relative word, seeing how it’s still a 5-inch phone) is its fast-focusing hybrid AF camera.

Thanks to it, the camera is able to focus on multiple points at any given time and snap a photo about as quick as you can click on the shutter button, or so Sony claims. The video showing off this new feature can be found after the jump.

Sorry Canada – No Sony Xperia Z3+ and Xperia Z4 Tablet for You

by Sohrab Osati | Aug 4, 2015 | 7 comments

If Sony pulling the plug of their online retail store in the US and Canada wasn’t sad enough news for you, we’ve unfortunately got one more piece to add to it. While the Sony Xperia Z3+ will be coming to the US via Verizon, those in Canada will have to either opt for its predecessor, the Xperia Z3, or wait for future models. According to Sony, their latest flagship smartphone and tablet won’t be making it to the country. That means no Sony Xperia Z3+ or Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet for those in Canada.

After the jump, Sony’s statement on the matter.

Meet the Sony Xperia C5 Ultra and Xperia M5

by Sohrab Osati | Aug 3, 2015 | 6 comments

Sony_Xperia_C5_Ultra_and_Xperia_M5 Prior to IFA 2015, which takes place in Berlin on September 4-9th, Sony has launched two new mid-range smartphones, the Xperia C5 Ultra and the Xperia M5. As its name suggests, the Xperia C5 Ultra is a fairly large phone; 6 inches to be exact; with a 1080p display while the Xperia M5 comes with a more reasonably sized 5-inch, 1080p display. While there’s nothing unique about their sizes, what makes these two devices stand out from the glut of Android devices is their front-facing camera – a 13-megapixel beast that can satisfy all of your ‘selfie’ needs.

More details about the jump.

Sony Mobile Q1 FY15 Results – Xperia Sales Collapse

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 30, 2015 | 23 comments

If you’re a regular reader of this site, you know that I stay away from flashy headlines. In fact, our headlines tend to be the most stale though hopefully the most truthful as well. With that, I wrote the above headline with some trepidation yet cannot find it more true.

The Sony Mobile Q1 FY15 results are in and things are not looking rosy for the mobile arm of Sony. In fact, you have to go back three years to see results this low. The following is from Sony

significant decrease in smartphone unit sales resulting from a strategic decision not to pursue scale in order to improve profitability

After the jump you’ll find the dreadful results, including a chart of Sony Mobile quarterly sales for the last 5 years.

New Sony IMX230 Camera Sensor Found in Motorola Moto X Style

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 28, 2015 | 0 comments

A topic of great interest for many of our readers is Sony’s mobile ambitions and how that plays into the company’s image sensor business. Just recently, it was revealed that Sony would be investing $4 billion into that division. Following that news, Sony revealed a new partnership with Japanese robotics firm ZMP to create Aerosens, a new drone company. While odd at first, Sony’s ambitions are clear; to create a compelling drone with stellar optics that are powered by the companies image sensors. In short, while Aerosens will be a fully functional company with its own path and vision for drones, the true goal of the company is to showcase Sony’s sensor technology and sell it to much larger players like Google, Amazon, Facebook, Parrot, Lockheed Martin, and DJI.

Now comes news that Motorola, a competitor of Sony Mobile, will be using the company’s latest camera sensor, one that even Sony itself isn’t using in their smartphone line.

New Sony Xperia Flagship to Launch in Fall?

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 28, 2015 | 0 comments

File this purely under the rumor mill but there have been some strong whispers about a new flagship smartphone from Sony Mobile. While Sony working on a followup to the Xperia Z3+/Z4 shouldn’t be surprising to anybody, the fact that we’re hearing about it so early is.

In fact, the Xperia Z3+ still hasn’t launched in many territories and this rumor pegs the release date, if not reveal date for early Fall. Let’s talk more after the jump.

Sony Xperia Z3+ Dual Now Available for Purchase in Malaysia

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 27, 2015 | 0 comments

It’s a day of long-announced Sony products being finally available for purchase! Earlier today, we reported on the beautiful Sony X900C 4K TV being available for purchase in the US and Europe. Now, the Sony Xperia Z3+ Dual, their latest flagship Android smartphone, is available for purchase in Malaysia.

More details after the jump, including price and color options.

What to Expect from Android 5.1.1 on Sony Xperia Smartphones

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 24, 2015 | 5 comments

We’ve reported fairly extensively on the arrival of Android 5.1.1 on Sony’s mobile fleet. In just the past week, the update has been released on the Xperia Z3 Compact & Z3 Tablet Compact as well as Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z2. In the coming weeks, Sony plans to roll out the new Android build on additional devices which you can read about here.

So what can you expect with Android 5.1.1 on your Sony Xperia device? After the jump, we’ve documented a few of the tweaks.

Sony Mobiles Android 5.1 Release Schedule Revealed

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 24, 2015 | 2 comments

Just this week along, Sony Mobile has released Android 5.1.1 on the Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z2 as well as the Xperia Z3 Compact and Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. With already a schedule that’s been far more aggressive than the Sony Mobile of the past, the company has revealed which devices will be getting the new Android build next.

Those details after the jump.

Android 5.1.1 Available on Sony Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z2

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 23, 2015 | 0 comments

Just yesterday, Sony begun rolling out Android 5.1.1 for the Xperia Z3 Compact & Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. Now the Android handset makers are expanding the scope of the new firmware to the Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z2. At the time, it’s unclear which countries the update is live in though the update is expected to be global and not region based.

Android 5.1.1 Lollipop Lands on Sony Xperia Z3 Compact & Z3 Tablet Compact

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 22, 2015 | 0 comments

Just a few days ago, it was revealed that Sony would be bringing Android 5.1.1 in the near future. As of today, the company has honored that promise by releasing the new Android build for the Xperia Z3 Compact and Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. Sony is expected to release Android 5.1.1 on additional devices though no specific timeframe has been given.

Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet LTE Now Available in Europe

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 21, 2015 | 6 comments

Though the Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet has been released for a few months now, up until today, you could only find the Wi-Fi model (SGP712) in Europe. All of that is changing with the Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet LTE (SGP771) model becoming available for purchase. Those eager to find the LTE edition can either purchase one from Sony’s own retail (link after the jump) or from other online retailers like Amazon.

Few more tidbits about the Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet LTE after the jump.

Sony Mobile CEO on Technology vs. Experience

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 21, 2015 | 7 comments

Hiroki Totoki, Sony Mobile CEO and President has addressed quite a few topics about the future of the division of impending doom rumors. Topics have included

Now Totoki is talking about perhaps one of the most fundamental and least understood aspects of a product, technology vs. experience. In some ways, Android is the new PC where most manufacturers are solely focused on specs and believe that the higher the number, the better the device.

Of course, that’s a fallacy where in reality, specs are only part of the over all product and a truly good user experience comes from how everything works together and the final output of the said thing. As an example, the iPhone 6 or even 5S have continued to use Sony’s 8-megapixel sensors (though the 6 has much improved lens with larger pixels) where Sony opted for a 20-megapixel sensor. Even with such a huge megapixel discrepancy, Sony was unable to compete with iPhone.

After the jump, Mr. Totoki talks about a better user experience.

Android 5.1.1 Coming to Sony Mobile Later This Month

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 20, 2015 | 0 comments

According to Sony Mobile, later this month, those who reside in Japan will be getting Android 5.1.1. Devices to get the new update include

Sony Xperia Z2
Sony Xperia Z3
Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet
Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact

More info after the jump.